Not-for-profit and charitable gaming

Competitions, raffles, bingo and other charitable games

Art unions, raffles, bingo, lucky envelopes, Calcutta sweeps and promotional games (trade promotions or competitions) are regulated under the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999.

Under the Act, these different games are broken into categories, some of which require a licence.

Category 1 games

Includes raffles (art unions), sweeps, Calcutta sweeps, football doubles, lucky door prizes, bingo
Gross proceeds are not more than $2,000
The total value of prizes in any raffle must be at least 20% of the estimated gross proceeds (total ticket sales)
Can be conducted by a non-profit association and, in limited cases, an individual
Read the Guide to category 1 games up to $2000 (total ticket sales)
Does not require a licence

Category 2 games

Includes raffles, sweeps, Calcutta sweeps, football doubles, lucky door prizes, bingo
Gross proceeds of all games in a bingo session are more than $2,000 but not more than $20,000
For other games—the gross proceeds are more than $2,000 but not more than $50,000
The total value of prizes in any raffle must be at least 20% of the estimated gross proceeds (total ticket sales)
Can be conducted by an eligible non-profit association
If a club is an 'eligible association' it can conduct raffles up to $50,000 without any licence, permit or permit number. See section 10 of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 for meaning of 'eligible association'
Read the Guide to category 2 games—Gross proceeds more than $2,000 but not more than $50,000 (total ticket sales)
Does not require a licence

Category 3 games

Includes raffles or art unions
Gross proceeds are more than $50,000
Can be conducted by an eligible incorporated non-profit association
A licence number must be printed on all category 3 games where the ticket sales are estimated to exceed $50,000
The total value of prizes in any raffle must be at least 20% of the estimated gross proceeds (total ticket sales)
Read the Guide to category 3 games—Gross proceeds more than $50,000 (total ticket sales)
Requires a category 3 gaming licence

Special category 3 games

Must be a person intending to conduct a single art union for the welfare or benefit of individuals who need help because of a disaster or a disadvantaged individual
Gross proceeds are more than $5,000
Requires a special category 3 gaming licence

Category 4 promotional games (trade promotions)

These are free entry draws conducted to promote goods or services
Any person may conduct a promotional game; however, they are normally conducted by businesses to promote the sale of products
Read the Guide to category 4 promotional games
Does not require a licence

Bingo centres

A bingo centre is where 2 or more eligible associations conduct, between them, more than 25 bingo sessions each week
Requires a bingo centre licence

Lucky envelopes

Lucky envelopes are a type of pre-determined lottery. They are sold as 'break-open' type tickets where the correct combination of numbers/letters/pictures on the tickets produces a winner
Lucky envelopes can be conducted by an eligible association
An eligible association must not sell lucky envelopes unless the envelopes have been printed under a licence
Requires a lucky envelope printer licence